Sport Australia has unveiled its 2022 Women Leaders in Sport (WLIS) Program, offering hundreds of women involved in Australian sport the chance to strengthen their role as leaders.
A total of 489 women across 34 sports are to benefit from this year’s initiative.
Acting Chief Executive Officer of Sport Australia, Rob Dalton said the Program, which began in 2002, continued to receive strong interest from the sector.
“This financial year saw a record number of individuals apply for funding, which is testament to the Program’s reputation and success in developing women leaders in sport,” Mr Dalton said.
“So far more than 26,000 women and over 800 local, State and national sporting organisations have benefitted from this Program and we look forward to supporting even more women in the future as we strive for a greater balance of men and women in senior positions in sport,” he said.
Mr Dalton said the WLIS Program was delivered by Sport Australia with the support of the Office for Women, with individuals and organisations sharing in more than $526,000 in grants this financial year.
He said a total of 70 women would share $296,000 in funding for professional development opportunities.
Co-founder of not-for-profit organisation Siren Sport, Kirby Fenwick said she would use her grant funding to study content design.
“It’s wonderful to get this kind of support to upskill and extend my knowledge in a really practical way,” Ms Fenwick (pictured) said.
“The skills and knowledge I will gain through this course will not only help me to build on my own work in sports media, but will equip me with tools and tips that I can share with colleagues and interns,” she said.
A total of 13 sporting organisations are to also share in $230,000 in funding to deliver leadership programs in their workplaces.
They include Surf Life Saving Tasmania, which is to establish a leadership and development program to support women who work in volunteer managerial positions.
